Stricken tanker suffers major oil spill, UAE beaches forced to close

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed that Umm Al Quwain beaches have been closed due to an oil spill from the GEM NO.2 tanker, which was hit by a projectile on October 9. Authorities have launched containment and cleanup efforts to mitigate the environmental impact. Residents in Sharjah and other areas had reported unusual odors since October 19, with initial official assessments indicating no health risks, while monitoring and evaluation continue. Local fishing is affected, and vessels are advised to avoid the area.